THE HAGUE, 08/03/01 - The reference made by Crown Prince Willem-Alexander to a letter to a newspaper should not lead to the conclusion that he endorses its contents. Without responding to the questions asked by the leftwing Greens (GroenLinks) and the socialists (SP), Prime Minister Wim Kok admitted in The Hague yesterday that he was surprised by the remarks made by the Prince in New York.

According to the prime minister, the Crown Prince only intended to point out to the press the importance of completeness and meticulousness in using journalistic sources. He did not intend to give a general qualification of the quality of the press reporting in connection with this subject.

Kok claimed to be surprised that the Prince was unable to resist the temptation to make personally tinted remarks after recent publications. "It was agreed that the radio silence would be reopened," Kok maintained. In his view, it would have been wiser for Willem-Alexander to remain silent. "But his remarks about the piece in La Nacion should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the letter. "